OSKC - Key Persons
David Johnston has been introducing people to the sport of sea kayaking for the past 20 years. He is a senior instructor trainer with Paddle Canada and has taught for several paddling schools in Ontario.
David lives in Peterborough and when not paddling, he is a web designer with the Ontario Provincial Government. Future dream jobs include becoming a professional wrestler referee or a certified waterslide tester.
Job Titles:
- Senior Paddle Canada Instructor and Instructor
Greg is a senior Paddle Canada instructor and instructor trainer who has been teaching for over 25 years in and around the Great Lakes. Finding fun ways for folks to learn and try new things and challenges is one of the key reasons he likes to teach paddling. Growing up and continuing to live in the Parry Sound area, Georgian Bay has a special place and he loves exploring back bays and islands. Greg is also a community and environmental planner working for a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as well as introducing his two kids to whatever paddle sport they'll get into.
Heather Stewart is Paddle Canada Level One Instructor and a Paddle Canada Level Two Skills paddler, and so much more. Heather is an RMT (Registered Massage Therapist), and Yoga Alliance Certified Instructor, a CanFITPRO PTS, ( personal training specialist) and an NWS (Nutrition Wellness Specialist). She is definitely a busy woman and one of our busiest guides! She uses her time in a kayak to unwind and disconnect from her busy Toronto life. Heather is also a professional artist and many of her paintings are the sunsets and sunrises she experiences while tripping in her kayak. Heather says, "I love helping people find their connection to their kayak… Yoga for Paddlers is a great way to find how to move and "be one with the boat", I also love beginners and teaching Intro and Level 1 Kayaking!" Heather has a great sense of humour and is always ready to share her yoga practice with her guests on trip.
James is the co-founder of Ontario Sea Kayak Centre and is our Senior Instructor Trainer and Lead Expedition Guide.
James Roberts started surf kayaking at age 18 off the coast of the Isle of Wight, England. After immigrating to Canada in 2003 he took his surf kayak skills and started sea kayaking. His love of guiding kayaking expeditions and teaching paddling skills has taken him all over Canada from the Great Lakes to both the East and West coasts and up to Nunavik, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories. As a lead sea kayak guide and Expedition Leader James has worked in Antarctica, The Canadian and Norwegian Arctic, Iceland, Greenland, USA, England, and Mexico. James' specialty is getting people to roll proficiently, cooking in a wilderness environment, Photography and making sea kayaks dance in the surf. James is also a commercial boat captain and drives boats in Antarctica and on Georgian Bay.
Achievements
In 2014 James traveled to Greenland to compete in the Greenland national Qajaq championships and won gold for Canada.
Filming during his Greenland experience he then wrote and directed "Greenland Bound - A Paddlers Pilgrimage" a documentary about the competition in Greenland. The documentary won the " Best Accomplished documentary" in the National Paddling Film Festival, " Best Sea Kayaking Film" in the Reel Paddling Film Festival and " Best Educational" in the Waterwalker Film Festival.
OSKC won "Best kayaking school in eastern Canada" Voted by readers of Sea Kayaker magazine.
James has achieved the highest level in the Paddle Canada sea kayaking program, and can now teach every level.
Attending Algonquin College he graduated with honours as an Adventure Naturalist.
Jeff Phaneuf is one of OSKC's graduates and newest coaches. He has been a teacher/coach (volleyball & rugby) at Ursuline College in Chatham for almost a quarter of a century. He is now combining his passion for teaching/coaching and the outdoors to his kayaking adventures in order to share his joy of being on the water.
His one luxury item on trip is his sacred Aeropress.
Kyle Steward has been one of our instructors since 2015 and his passion for the sport is infectious. Kyle is a very skilled Greenland roller and kayak instructor. He has his Paddle Canada Level Three Skills and is a Paddle Canada Level One Instructor as well as a Paddle Canada rolling instructor. You might meet him on one of our Level One Skills courses at Guelph Lake as well as in Parry Sound.
Mark started his paddling habit as a nine-year-old in a canoe. Canoe tripping grew into an obsession with all types of paddling and all forms of paddle craft. Today, from his home on Manitoulin Island, he spends time paddling with family and building their collection of more than 30 canoes and kayaks. An avid marathon paddler he is always looking to refine the forward stroke and loves the efficiency of the Greenland Paddle, a shout-out to Traditional Indigenous Knowledge! A teacher by trade and lifelong learner, he also collects paddling certifications. Amongst his collection, PC Level 3 Sea Kayak Skills and is a PC Level 2 Instructor and Kayak Rolling Instructor.
Ray Boucher lives in Wawa Ontario with his wife Patty. Ray has been a school teacher and an x-ray technologist, and enjoys spending his time working and recreating in the outdoors. He is a Paddle Canada Instructor and Instructor Trainer in sea kayaking, and has certifications in the BCU and ACA systems as well. He is actively involved in Paddle Canada as an Ontario representative on the Sea Kayak Program Development Committee. Ray is paddles with P&H Custom Sea Kayaks, is a Werner Paddles Coastal Kayak Team Member, and a Kokatat Regional Ambassador.